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Looking to relocate and buy a new home, and I no absolutely nothing about the area other than what is in Wikipedia and City Data statistics. It this a nice area, and is it safe, how far to the nearest swimming beaches, are there better alternatives I should be looking at for a home around 250K?
We looked at Sugarmill Woods, but ruled it out because it was so far away from the airport, the port, shopping, and cultural venues. The community looks nice and it's definitely affordable, but when I started asking residents about why it was so affordable I heard stories about overzealous enforcement of rules pertaining to lawns, etc. As always, do your research before you decide to buy anywhere.
We are in a suburb of Chicago and very interested in the area . My husband is is retired so we are not looking for access to employment . We have 2 school aged children & would love any feedback on the community / amenities and schools . Also ..any feedback on homeowners insurance . Thanks in advance .
We are in a suburb of Chicago and very interested in the area . My husband is is retired so we are not looking for access to employment . We have 2 school aged children & would love any feedback on the community / amenities and schools . Also ..any feedback on homeowners insurance . Thanks in advance .
Have you looked at Pasco County as I think that it would be more suited towards your family ?
Originally from Northern Illinois and I am currently building a new home in Sugarmill Woods Oak Village section. We looked over the area and LOVE it, it's a great fit for us. It is safe and quiet and very attractive area, very "old Florida" feel. Prices for new construction in this area are a real bargain. Most of the area is out of the flood zone and won't require flood insurance. Super low HOA fees, less than $250 per year! Here is a link about Sugarmill Woods: //www.city-data.com/city/Sugarm...s-Florida.html
Originally from Northern Illinois and I am currently building a new home in Sugarmill Woods Oak Village section. We looked over the area and LOVE it, it's a great fit for us. It is safe and quiet and very attractive area, very "old Florida" feel. Prices for new construction in this area are a real bargain. Most of the area is out of the flood zone and won't require flood insurance. Super low HOA fees, less than $250 per year! Here is a link about Sugarmill Woods: //www.city-data.com/city/Sugarm...s-Florida.html
Good luck with your move and congratulations on the new house.
Originally from Northern Illinois and I am currently building a new home in Sugarmill Woods Oak Village section. We looked over the area and LOVE it, it's a great fit for us. It is safe and quiet and very attractive area, very "old Florida" feel. Prices for new construction in this area are a real bargain. Most of the area is out of the flood zone and won't require flood insurance. Super low HOA fees, less than $250 per year! Here is a link about Sugarmill Woods: //www.city-data.com/city/Sugarm...s-Florida.html
Its good that u know the story. You will have to come to Spring Hill for your big box store stuff, clothing, furnishings. Its pretty much "out there a ways" but is quiet, attractive and safe. Crystal River has a good hospital and there is one in Inverness. Fort Island Gulf Beach will be the closest to you and its at the beginning of SR 44 (or the end depending on your perspective. Its a nice community though.
My wife and I moved to Crystal River in 2005 from Pennsylvania. We stayed in many different parts of the State before settling here. Once we convinced ourselves that this area was right for us, we rented a condo for three months and took time to explore the area and its communities. We were not in a hurry to make a quick purchase and took our time selecting a waterfront property. We chose to purchase in the condominium community where we rented.
The Islands Condominiums is a few miles from town. Not very far, but it is a world apart, located in the midst of the Crystal River Buffer Preserve which is directly adjacent is the St. Martins Aquatic Preserve which then abuts the Chassahowitka National Wildlife Preserve. This area of the "Nature Coast" is aptly named. My backyard is more that 80,000 acres of forever protected landscape. Dolphins and Manatees swim past the seawall with regularity and bald eagles and osprey often fly overhead. It's heaven if you are into boating, kayaking or fishing and less than a 15 minute travel time to the open Gulf of Mexico by boat. Our visitors remark at the quiet, peaceful, stillness of our home.
I like the fact that all the outside maintenance is taken care of by the Association. Except for taking out the trash, my free time is my own and does not have to be consumed by home or yard maintenance.
The Islands community has a large, heated, private and gated swimming pool with a large deck and plenty of recliners to work that tan.
In 2009, Crystal River was rated by Coastal Living Magazine as one of the Top 10 Snorkeling spots in the World, sharing the distinction with the likes of Belize, the Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Grand Cayman. Crystal River is one of the only rivers in Florida where people can interact and swim with the gentle, endangered West Indian Manatee that seek out the constant 72 degree temperature of its natural springs.
The Islands Community is adjacent to The St. Martins Aquatic Preserve, a vast 23,000-acre area of coastal marshes, mangrove islands, oyster bars and shallow water flats along the coastline with sparkling clear waters, sponge and coral communities and sargassum meadows. For bird watchers, the St. Martin Keys is the southern terminus for migratory waterfowl of the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways.
Crystal River has three long established, PADI certified dive shops if that tells you anything about the popularity this area has with scuba enthusiasts. We are located in the seven rivers area with large first magnitude springs welling up hundreds of millions of gallons of fresh water per day from deep underground caverns. Cave diving, open-ocean, river or lake diving is available.
Much of the backwater is not accessible to boat traffic, making the Islands an ideal place for undisturbed kayaking and canoeing. The twenty-mile long Nature Coast Canoe and Kayak trail passes right by the Islands Community. Beginning on the Crystal River traveling south to Mason Creek and beyond into the 31,000 acre Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.
Trout, Redfish and Snook are present year-round, and at certain times fishing can be phenomenal as pelagic species such as drag peeling Spanish Mackerel migrate though Crystal Bay. Citrus County also has an artificial reef system approximately twenty miles offshore that holds Shark, Grouper, Cobia, Snapper, Kingfish and Sea Bass. Resident Tarpon are found in the Crystal River and migrants make there way through the area in numbers in May. In 2001 a 202-pound behemoth was reeled in from area waters; the largest Tarpon ever caught on a fly rod. There are also three freshwater borrow lakes within walking distance of the Islands that have a good population of the famed Florida largemouth bass.
The Islands is rural living within a day-trip distance to big city amenities. It is proximate to an immense variety of activities yet removed from the noise, hassle, hustle, bustle, and traffic jams prevalent in urban centers.
Two international airports (Orlando and Tampa) serve the area along with several smaller regional airports (St. Petersburg, Orlando Sanford, and Gainesville). Crystal River’s own airport runway is long enough to accommodate small private jets, has a flight school and offers rentals to private pilots interested to take short jaunts across the State or to simply to keep up hours.
Tampa, a straight shot down the Suncoast Parkway and Orlando, a straight shot across the Florida Turnpike are both approximately ninety minutes from Crystal River. One will find the culture of a performing arts center, Broadway style theaters, fine restaurants, a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, botanical gardens, and eclectic museums such as the Salvador Dali. Not to mention the major theme park attractions such as Disney World, Epcot, Sea World, Universal Orlando, Wet & Wild, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Lego Land and Dinosaur World.
Baseball’s Spring Training draws visitors and locals alike to watch the World famous New York Yankees play in Tampa, Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota.
Also in spring, the streets of St. Petersburg are turned into a Formula One racetrack for the Firestone Grand Prix. If you prefer NASCAR, the Daytona International Speedway is just 120 miles across the State, home of the biggest richest and most prestigious race on the NASCAR schedule, the Daytona 500. The track also is host to the Sprint Cup Series, Coke Zero 400, and North America’s premier sports car event, the Rolex 24, a demanding 24-hour race that serves as the kickoff to the 2016 ISMA TUDOR United Sports Car Champion season. Up to 500,000 people make their way to Daytona in spring for Bike Week, a ten- day event of motorcycle racing, concerts, parties and street festivals.
Spring Break is near, but not here. The Nature Coast is defined as a zero impact coastline. The shallow waters and low tide swings are such that sand is not created and deposited on the shoreline. Rather, our shorelines are comprised of oyster bars, mangrove islands and saw grass. While Crystal River has a small man-made beach, the white sugar sand beaches are a few hours South, or in the Panhandle to the North or across the State along the Atlantic coast. If you’re into crowds and wild, out-of-control parties you will have to seek it out. The Islands is the antithesis of Spring Break… quiet, tranquil and peaceful.
There are plenty of golf courses in Florida. The closest course is three miles from the Islands. Green fees are reasonable and the course is not crowded. In all there are two courses within the incorporated area of Crystal River, there are six courses within a half hour, and seventeen courses to choose from within 45 minutes.
The Islands is removed from the light pollution of the city and the nighttime skies offer stargazers clear views of constellations and the occasional meteor showers that occur throughout the year. Although the Kennedy Space Center is due East and 136 miles across the State, rocket launches are easily viewed from the Islands. Nighttime launches are especially exciting as they rise off the horizon and soar into orbit. Although the shuttle program has ended Cape Canaveral remains an active launch facility with SpaceX, The Department of Defense and NASA having a regular schedule of blastoffs of satellite and resupply missions to the International Space Station.
Unlike many, the Islands Condominium Association is financially well managed with over $1.2 Million Dollars in reserves. The monthly assessment is $530 per month. Approximately one-third of this amount relates to flood and hazard insurance, understandably higher than inland properties, yet it is the price you pay to live on the water. Another 25% of the monthly fee is set aside in reserves for capital expenditures and deferred maintenance that includes such things as painting of the buildings, road maintenance, roofs and replacement of depreciable assets. The remainder of the assessment covers regularly occurring monthly and annual expenses such as employee salaries, grounds maintenance, sewer, cable television, trash collection, pool maintenance and chemicals, office expenses, the Association’s electric and water usage, property management and taxes. The reserves are so well funded there has been no need for special assessments.
Lawn care and grounds maintenance is performed by a staff of four, nothing for you to do except enjoy your time.
The Islands has a private tennis court and clubhouse. You can be as socially active as you wish in social activities that include a kayak club, fishing and boating club, golf league, craft club, book club and investment club.
Property taxes are low, just $1,424 for non-homesteaded, 1600 square foot unit and there is no State income tax in Florida.
The Islands is accessed from Ft. Island Trail, two miles from the main highway U.S. 19. A mile long, paved road from Ft. Island Trail leads into the community. There are no through streets and the community’s private roads dead end. Neighbors know and watch out for one another. It is a safe community.
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